All local party committees should strictly implement law and discipline to prevent possible corruption of officials, said a leading disciplinary official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the country's ruling party.

Wu Guanzheng, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline

Inspection, made the remarks during his inspection tour of southwest China's Sichuan Province and Chongqing Municipality from December 17 to 21.

He said that there are still violations of party discipline in some regions and departments. The lack of discipline awareness is a major reason why many officials made mistakes.

All CPC officials should strengthen their discipline awareness and properly use their power through studying laws and regulations, said Wu.

Wu also stressed the importance of institutional supervision on party officials. He vowed to strictly implement the inner party supervision regulation and further improve the policy on mobile inspection teams. He also called for an effective mechanism of regulating powerful officials, including reporting of personal major affairs, democratic appraisal and regular audit.

He asked all party discipline inspection departments to strengthen the crackdown on corrupted officials including abusing power for personal gains, perverting justice and serious violations of the interests of the people.

During his tour, Wu also visited the former residence of the late Party leader Deng Xiaoping in Sichuan Province.

(Xinhua News Agency December 22, 2004)